Waiting is never easy. Whether you are waiting for a loved one to come home from deployment, waiting for your test results, or waiting for God to move in your life, the wait can be difficult. During those times it is easy to become frustrated and impatient. We want things to happen on our schedule, but often that is not what God has planned. Today I’m sharing ways to find peace in the wait and to accept God’s timing even when it doesn’t make sense.

I’m sure we’ve all been there. You’re anxious to get moving on your dreams and passions, but for some reason God has put a stall on things. You pray, you wait, and still it seems as if nothing happens, nothing changes. It’s so hard to accept His timing when it feels like everything is moving forward for everyone else except you. But what if peace is found in the wait?

How to Accept God’s Timing in Things

They say that God’s timing is best, but sometimes it is hard to accept. We typically want the answer or blessing right away, which doesn’t always happen in God’s time. If you are going through a challenge with no end in sight, here are some tips for helping you accept God’s timing!

1.  Ask God to Help You Accept His Timing

“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:13,14

Always ask God for help! He is a loving Heavenly Father who will help you if you ask. Tell Him that you are struggling to accept His timing, but you are willing to try. This is one of the best and first things to do when you need help.

We live in a world that is constantly moving and changing, and it can be difficult to wait for things to happen in God’s timing. However, if we ask for His help, He will always be there for us. He is a loving Heavenly Father who wants us to be happy and successful.

You can share all your feelings with God. He knows everything you are feeling and just wants to help. Sometimes the simple act of asking is all you need to be able to accept His timing.

When we tell Him that we are struggling to accept His timing, He will always help us. He will give us the strength and patience to wait for things to happen in His timing. Asking God for help is one of the best things we can do when we need help.

2.  Focus on Your Blessings

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,” Psalm 103:2

While it may be hard, try to shift your focus from waiting to receive an answer or blessing to something more positive. Shifting our focus happens little by little, but it is doable. Focus on the blessings you have received recently and in the past.

You can also keep a gratitude journal. These help you see the good no matter how hard the day might have been. Start by writing a few things you are thankful for each day. Soon you will start to notice that you are naturally happier. 

We often get so focused on when and how God will deliver us that we lose focus on what is truly important. Remi, in God Hears Her devotional book shared, “Our ability to stand in the midst of trials depends on our focus. If we’re looking only for immediate deliverance, we may not endure. But if we’re looking to Jesus, He’ll help us to realize that whatever happens, we stand on who God is-not on what He does for us.”  

3.  Look for Reasons Why God Says Wait

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

There are always reasons why God’s timing and your timing are different. Try to come up with a list of reasons why the timing is not yet. Maybe there is a lesson to be learned from this experience. It could also be that you will need to help someone else go through the same exact experience one day.

related: Waiting on God

We may never know the true reason why God’s timing is taking longer than we thought, but sometimes coming up with a reason helps our brains turn off and allows us to move forward. It could be that he wants us to learn patience, or appreciate what we have.

Maybe He has something even better in store for us and is just making sure we’re ready for it. Whatever the reason, it’s important to remember that God always has our best interest at heart.

So instead of spending our time worrying about why things are taking longer than we wanted, we can trust that his timing is perfect and enjoy the journey. Who knows, we might even find that the wait was worth it in the end.

4.  Study God’s Word for Guidance

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

There is so much power that comes from reading the scriptures. We can receive strength just from studying His words daily. Try to make it a habit to read your Bible daily; that way, when hard times come, you will already have the faith and testimony to get you through.

Because there are so many stories and examples in the Bible, look for one related to your situation. What Bible story is like yours? What happens to them? Does everything turn out in the end for that person? Doing this can help you know that everything will be okay for your trial as well.

5.  Keep a Prayer Journal

“And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets…”” Habakuk 2:2

Keep a prayer journal or notebook where you write down all the spiritual experiences you go through. This will help you have something to look back on when you are going through a challenge.

You are a lot stronger than you think. When you record all the experiences you go through, both the good and the bad, you’ll realize you can be more patient and that you can make it through hard things.

Everybody has struggles. We all face challenges, both big and small, that test our strength and resilience. And while it’s easy to feel like you can’t handle whatever is thrown your way, the truth is that you are a lot stronger than you think.

The next time you find yourself doubting your strength, remember all the times you’ve made it through tough situations. God always carries you through!

6.  Learn More About God

“Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,” Proverbs 1:5

The more you learn about God, the more you see how loving He truly is. Time after time, God always fulfills His promises no matter what. He is a merciful God and will always help you through your challenges.

It’s often during difficult times that we learn and grow the most. Though it may not seem like it at the time, these challenges make us stronger and help us to become the person God has planned for us to be.

Every trial we face is an opportunity to learn and to grow in our faith. When we lean on God and trust in His plan, we can find strength and hope even in the darkest of times. So when life gets tough, remember that God is using those challenges to mold you into the person He knows you can be.

7.  Remind Yourself His Timing is Perfect

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

God’s timing is perfect and all according to His plan. Even if we don’t see that or fully understand, we can still rely on His word to be true. When things seem like they are taking forever, remind yourself what you know to be true. Here are a few things to say to yourself daily:

• God’s timing is perfect
• He knows what I need better than I do
• He will help me through this challenge
• God is merciful

8.  Ask Others for Help

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17

You can always ask your friends and family for help. They might be able to see things you wouldn’t see on your own. They can also share similar experiences they have gone through and how they handled them.

9.  Give it over to God

“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

We often struggle with God’s timing when we are going through something difficult, and we just want a way out. This could be any trial or challenge. When you have tried everything and still struggle to accept His timing, give it to Him.

related: Peace I Leave with You | Free Printable Bible Reading Plan

Surrender your will to His. This might not get you out of your scenario and might not even make things easier, but it can bring you comfort and relief.

Accepting God’s timing is not an easy task. But, when you combine your efforts on focusing on God and use all the resources around you, things become easier. Use these 9 tips next time you are struggling and embrace the power that comes from it.